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General Motors on Feb. 25 announced a global strategy that to embed 4G LTE mobile broadband into its models to improve enhance vehicle connectivity. The first GM cars, trucks, and crossovers to get 4G LTE will be most 2015 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac models available in 2014 in the U.S. and Canada.

Raytheon Technical Services Co. LLC (RTSC), together with teammate Thales Visionix Inc. (TVI), has won an award valued at $3.5 million for the engineering and manufacturing development of Common Helmet Mounted Display (CHMD) systems for the U.S.

Boeing and Istanbul Technical University (ITU) reached an agreement to launch joint research and development programs. In addition, Boeing and ITU announced their first joint project: a one-year effort to research and develop an advanced air-filtration system to enhance air quality for passengers in commercial airplane cabins.

Confidence in the safety of R1234yf as an automotive A/C refrigerant continues to grow in the ranks of an SAE International Cooperative Research Project team as it continues to review relevant research and testing to finalize risk assessment.

The Taurus/Explorer front-drive platform with all-wheel drive and V6 engines has replaced the iconic police car: the rear-drive Crown Victoria with 4.6-L V8. Sedan and utility vehicle versions are offered, with many police-specific changes, although powertrains are virtually the same as civilian models.

Radio head units are evolving rapidly as more consumers want to have access to most, if not all, their infotainment options while in their vehicles. Hardware developers are responding with more computing horsepower while they examine a number of wireless technologies that will play a significant role in radio head units.

Satisfaction with factory-installed navigation systems among car owners fell while the number of owners using a nav app on their smartphone in the vehicle rose over the course of a year, according to J.D.

The HCD-14 Genesis concept, revealed at the NAIAS in Detroit, is the “spiritual guide” for all of the Korean automaker’s future premium vehicles, said John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America.

Visteon Corp. and its longtime Korean affiliate Halla Climate Control Corp. have signed an agreement under which the latter will purchase most of the former's climate-control business to create the world's second largest supplier of automotive climate-control components and systems.

The Ford urban delivery vehicle gets a six-speed automatic, electric power steering, a 1.6-L EcoBoost that offers 30-mpg highway fuel economy, and a 2.5-L four that can be prepped for CNG and LPG. Short- and long-wheelbase models, as with minivan versions announced earlier, will be offered.

Daimler's decision to halt use of the new refrigerant on safety concerns leads to a product defense by joint-venture suppliers Honeywell and DuPont, citing SAE studies and their own tests. Although GM is the only U.S. maker with R-1234yf cars, Ford also backs the refrigerant's use.

A significant uptick in cabin storage, new seats, and the debut of a next-generation in-vehicle connectivity system head the features list of an all-new interior on the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 full-size pickup trucks.

A low-cost system on the 2013 Spark and Sonic introduces Apple's Siri and $50 BringGo navigation. The 2014 Impala has upscale Cadillac CUE-derived MyLink with embedded navigation and a screen resembling a smartphone.

The key to executing great vehicle infotainment systems is so much more than designing the screen. Two experts from Altia create a scenario with an OEM customer to explain how they develop the user-interface experience.

The electrified powertrain, a newly developed regenerative braking system, and Bio-Fabric seating material in Honda's new Fit EV all stem from developments in the FCX Clarity fuel-cell car and other EV forebears.

In response to a recent press statement from Germany that CO2 is the "right" automotive air-conditioning refrigerant, SAE International President Frank O. Klegon invites all automobile manufacturers to join in an industry collaborative effort to fully evaluate CO2 in such use.

The drive to move commercial technologies such as Ethernet and open source software into vehicles is gaining momentum. A number of companies are basing plans on the ubiquitous network, and two consortia recently teamed up to focus on boosting interest in using Ethernet in infotainment systems.

Valeo and V. Johnson Enterprises have formed a joint venture named Detroit Thermal Systems (DTS) to acquire the last operation in Ford's Automotive Components Holding unit—the climate-control business on Sheldon Road in Plymouth, MI.

Autoliv said Oct. 19 that it will expand its technical center for active safety and vehicle restraint development in Shanghai, China. The expansion will enable the company to increase its crash testing, engineering of passive and active safety systems, and global core airbag development in China.

SAE International is working with global automakers to investigate the formation of a new Cooperative Research Program (CRP) regarding 1234yf refrigerant. The formation of the group is in response to a Daimler AG press release on Sept. 25 that questioned the safe use of the refrigerant.

Faurecia engineers and other personnel recently completed occupation of new offices in Southfield, MI. The Southfield Customer Center covers 50,000 ft² (4600 m²) and is dedicated to engineering, product development, program management, sales, and marketing in support of Ford.